Rotatable fluid current machine



Feb; 23, 1932. M, J, c, M, THOMAS 1,846,162

ROTATABLE FLUID CURRENT MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1929 i w I ma awe r. 65 -Maaro'ce JaMT/w @W vQK Patented Feb. 23, 1932 MAURICE JOSEPH CHARLES MARIE THOMAS, OF TROBERTVILLE, FRANCE ROTATAIBLE FLUID CURRENT MACHINE Application filed January 25, 1929, Serial No.334,985, andin Belgium February 9, 1928.

The present invention relates to rotatable fluid current machines and, more especially, to those adapted to be driven by a liquid.

One of the objects of the invention is to render the operation of machines of the above type more sure and regular irrespective of the direction and the velocity of the current by which the are driven.

Other 0 jects will appear in the course of the detailed description now to be given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of one illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2 to 5 are diagrams showing the relative positions of the various elements at different phases of the machines operation.

Referring to the various figures of the drawings, there is shown an assembly consisting of a vertical rotatable shaft a supported at both ends in appropriate bearings, a rectangular frame I) supported by collars c c and including a pair of rotatable side members 6 and b ,a pair of vanes al and 6Z2 adapted to rotate with b and 6 respectively,--pairs of transverse rods 6 e and 6 e traversing elements 6 and respectively,-flexible cables 7, f and F, f passing over pulleys supported on collar 0 and terminating in springs h, 71. 71. [L connected to a collar 71 attached to shaft a, and a speed regulating device to be described further on.

The above assembly placed in a horizontal current of liquid flowing in any given direction operates substantially as follows When vane d is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 relatively to current at, it moves so that the impulse received from said cur rent is at a maximum i. e. so that spring 7& is completely distended, while spring 71, is completely slack. In this position, which corresponds to one of the extreme positions of the vane, the plane of the latter takes a position on the current side of shaft a, this position being determined by the maximum tension of spring h and the length of cable (3 (angle y). Vane (P, at the same time assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 i. e. substantially in line with the current and so that spring h is slightly stretched while l2. is slightly slack, whereby favoring the rotation of shaft a. The current, continuing to act 011 vane 6Z1, repels it towards the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 8, when it ceases to be further impelled by the current. The tension of spring k then acts to rotate vane (Z so that it presents its opposite face to the current and moves into the full line position represented in Fig. 8, spring h becoming completely relaxed, while spring 7L is stretched to a maximum and limits the extreme position of the vane. The current acting on panel d continues to rotate shaft or in the same direction until the former approaches the position corresponding tothat of vane d in Figs. 1 and 2. As the vane approaches the position shown in Fig. 5-passing through the position corresponding to that of vane d in Fig. 3spring 7L relaxes until h and k are equally stretched, then spring 7&1 stretches to a maximum bringing vane al into driving position (Fig. 5).

Shaft a is, therefor, driven by vane 01 While frame I) is displaced from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that in which the plane of the frame is substantially perpendicular to direction 00 i. e. through 27 0. Vane d is inactive, therefor, only for 360 27 =90.

Since two vanes d and (Z are employed, angularly displaced by 180 from one another, a continuous drive of shaft a is obtained, irrespective of the direction of current 00.

If desired, a series of frames may be positioned along shaft a with their planes displaced by an appropriate angle, i. e. 90 for two frames, for three frames etc. so as to increase the force and uniformity of the rotative couple.

The hereinabove described assembly may, if desired, be fitted with a speed regulating device comprising weights j, mounted on arms j j which articulate with a fixed collar is driven by shaft a, and controlling arms f supporting collar 11. When shaft (1 turns at too high a speed, masses j, j are thrown outwardly and move collar 2' upward so as to slacken all of the springs h. Frame 1) will, therefore, have to describe a greater angle than that for Which vane (Z moves into driving position (Fig 5) before the reaction of the current can be transmitted to shaft a. If the speed diminishes, springs h are brought under tension and increases the driving period.

What I claim is In combination, a rotatable shaft, a frame mounted on said shaft, a plurality of vanes pivotally mounted in said frame, a collar slidable on said shaft, a control rod associated with each of said vanes and extendingon opposite sides thereof, flexible cables connected to said control rods on either side of each of said vanes, springs connected to "said cables and to said collar, and means controlled by the speed of rotation of said shaft to move said collar along the shaft to vary the tension of said springs. p

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

MAURICE JOSEPH CHARLES MARIE THOMAS. 

